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Water SA
On-line version ISSN 1816-7950
Print version ISSN 0378-4738
Water SA vol.36 n.1 Pretoria Jan. 2010
Effect of phenolic compounds on the rapid direct enzymatic detection of β-D-galactosidase and β-D-glucuronidase
Sagaran Abboo; Brett I Pletschke*
Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa
β-D-Galactosidase and β-D-glucuronidase are 2 marker enzymes used in the rapid detection of total coliforms and E. coli, respectively. A range of bioprobes and biosensors have recently been developed for the rapid, direct and in situ detection of these enzymes. Chromogenic substrates are often used to assay for these enzymes and result in phenolic products being formed. However, phenolic compounds may also be present in water due to industrial activity. In this study, the effect of 11 US EPA priority pollutant phenols (PPP) on these enzyme assays were investigated and it was shown that over- and under-estimation of β-D-galactosidase and β-D-glucuronidase activities may occur due to inhibition or activation of these enzymes in the presence of these phenolic compounds. The types of inhibition as well as inhibition constant (Ki) values were established for the inhibited activities. Wastewater treatment plant and other effluents (e.g. tannery effluents) may contain these phenolic compounds at concentrations high enough to inhibit or activate the activities of the marker enzymes, therefore influencing the rapid and direct enzymatic measurement of faecal contamination using these metabolic marker enzymes.
Keywords: coliforms, E. coli, faecal, β-D-galactosidase, β-D-glucuronidase, inhibition, wastewater.
For the detection of indicator bacteria such as total coliforms or Escherichia coli (E. coli), microbial enzyme profiles are a preferred option compared to classical methods, because the reactions are more sensitive and rapid to perform and bacteria can be detected and enumerated through specific enzyme activities (Romprẻ et al., 2002). Chromogenic or fluorogenic enzyme substrates are used to detect the enzymes β-D-galactosidase (β-GAL) and β-D-glucuronidase (β-GUD). The chromogenic enzyme substrates are phenol-based, for example the enzyme substrates for β-GUD are p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucuronide (PNPG) and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-glucuronide (XGLU), where PNPG produces ρ-nitrophenol (a yellow colour) and XGLU produces a blue indoxyl product. The fluorogenic substrate used to detect β-GUD is 4-methylumbelliferyl-b- D-glucuronide (MUG) (Manafi, 1996; 2000). β-GAL is detected by using the chromogenic substrates chlorophenol red-β-galactopyranoside (CPRG) and o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) (Edberg et al., 1988; Cheng et al., 2002).
As phenolic compounds have extensive industrial applications, they are often found to be present in the aquatic environment (Llompart et al., 2002; Asan and Isildak, 2003). Several major sources are responsible for the presence of these phenolic compounds in the environment, e.g. pesticides, bactericides, wood preservatives and dyes. Phenolic compounds are also present in pulp processing, petroleum refining, leather tannery, textiles and plastics (Lee et al., 1996; Angelino and Gennaro, 1997; Pẽnalver et al., 2002; Asan and Isildak, 2003; Lupetti et al., 2004). Furthermore, phenols may also be found in fertilizers and explosives (Aktas et al., 2006).
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists 11 priority pollutant phenols (PPP), according to their levels of toxicity, which are characterised by the substituent chloro, nitro and methyl groups (Angelino and Gennaro, 1997; Llompart et al., 2002). These 11 PPP compounds are: phenol; 4-nitrophenol; 2-chlorophenol; 2-nitrophenol; 2,4- dinitrophenol; 2,4-dimethylphenol; 4-chloro-3-methylphenol; 4,6-dinitro-2-methylphenol; 2,4-dichlorophenol; 2,4,6-triclorophenol and pentachlorophenol. The European Union (EU) lists the following 7 highly toxic phenols in its legislation: 2-amino-4-chlorophenol; 4-chloro-3-methylphenol; 2-chlorophenol; 3-chlorophenol; 4-chlorophenol; trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol (Gonzalez-Toledo et al., 2001). The limits for the phenols are set at a maximum of 0.5 ug·ℓ-1 for total phenols and 0.1 µg·ℓ-1 for each individual phenol (Lee at al., 1996).
Nistor et al. (2002) measured the amount of phenolic compounds in environmental water samples at different stages of wastewater treatment. The 3 sources of effluent were at raw, primary and final stages. The concentrations of phenolic compounds were as high as 0.114 mg·mℓ-1 for nitrophenol at the primary effluent stage and 0.083 mg·mℓ-1 for 2,3-dichlorophenol at the raw effluent stage. These results were obtained by solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS) analysis. Based on these findings, the concentrations of phenolic compounds used in this study to examine the effect of interference of these phenolic compounds on the β-GAL and β-GUD assays were set at 0.1 mg·mℓ-1 and 0.2 mg·mℓ-1, respectively.
β-GAL and β-GUD enzymes and their respective activities have been used in the design and development of rapid and direct in situ bioprobe assays and biosensors for faecal detection and monitoring (Wutor et al., 2007a;b;c; Fiksdal and Tryland, 2008). The primary aim of this study was to investigate the potential effect of the PPP compounds at levels commonly found in wastewater on β-GAL and β-GUD activity assays using the substrates PNPG and CPRG.
β-D-galactosidase (β-GAL) assays
The CPRG assay performed in this study was adapted from Cheng et al. (2002). The assay buffer used was a 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0. A substrate solution of 0.75 mM CPRG (Roche Molecular Biochemicals), diluted in the sodium phosphate buffer, was prepared. A 100 μℓ aliquot stock solution in buffer of commercial β-GAL enzyme (Sigma Aldrich G-2519, EC 18.104.22.168) was then added to a well in a microtitre plate to give a final concentration of 6.88 x 10-5 nM, followed by 100 μℓ of the CPRG solution to initiate the reaction. The change in absorbance was detected at 550 nm at 37ºC for 30 min, reading at 1 min intervals on a Powerwavex microtitre-plate reader (Bio-Tek Instruments, Inc., USA). All assays were performed in triplicate.
β-D-glucuronidase (β-GUD) assays
The enzyme assay used to determine β-GUD activity was adapted from Fisher and Woods (2000). The substrate PNPG was prepared in assay buffer at a concentration of 10 mM. The assay buffer consisted of 0.1 M Tris-HCl, pH 8.0 containing 0.6 mM CaCl2. Commercial β-GUD was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich (G-7396, EC 3.21.31) and prepared in the assay buffer above. A 100 μℓ aliquot stock solution of enzyme in buffer was placed in a microtitre-plate well to give a final concentration of 6.88 x 10-5 nM, after which 100 μℓ of PNPG substrate was added to initiate the reaction which was monitored at 405 nm for 10 min taking readings every 30 s at 37ºC on a Powerwavex microtitre-plate reader (Bio-Tek Instruments, Inc., USA). All assays were performed in triplicate.
β-GAL and β-GUD assays in the presence of phenolic compounds
In order to observe the effects of the 11 PPP compounds listed above on β-GAL and β-GUD enzyme activity, the same assay parameters were used as described above but with the addition of each individual phenolic compound. Individual stock solutions (0.2 mg·mℓ-1) of each phenolic compound were prepared by dissolving the compounds in either 100% acetonitrile or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and then diluting using an appropriate amount of Milli-Q grade water to the required volume. A mixture of the respective enzyme and individual phenolic compound was prepared to give final concentrations of 0.1 mg·mℓ-1 and 0.2 mg·mℓ-1 of each phenolic compound, added to the wells in the microtitre plate, and placed in the Powerwavex microtitre-plate reader until a temperature of 37ºC was reached. The respective substrates were then added and the reactions were monitored. Appropriate controls for the contribution of buffer and enzyme, and substrate and buffer were performed at each phenol concentration used. All assays were performed in triplicate.
Results and discussion
Selection of organic solvents to dissolve the phenolic compounds
Since phenolic compounds are not totally soluble in water, an organic solvent was initially used to dissolve these compounds prior to adding Milli-Q grade water to the desired volume for stock solutions. It was therefore crucial that the organic solvent used to dissolve the phenolic compounds would not interfere with the enzyme assays, so that only the effects of the 11 PPP compounds being monitored would be observed. Acetonitrile was initially selected as the organic solvent for this purpose. Studies were performed to establish whether or not acetonitrile contributed to any background interference. These experiments were performed with both enzyme assays using only the enzyme (β-GAL or β-GUD) and acetonitrile without any of the phenolic compounds present. The organic solvent was tested at the same concentrations as those present during the investigation of the effects of the 11 PPP compounds on the β-GAL and β-GUD assays.
When tested in the β-GUD assay acetonitrile was shown to be a compatible solvent, resulting in little background interference (data not shown). When tested in the β-GAL assay; however, acetonitrile contributed to some background interference, at a concentration of 1% (v/v). For this reason, alternative organic solvents were therefore also investigated. The most compatible solvent which was selected to dissolve the phenolic compounds for the β-GAL assay was 100% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)
Effects of 11 PPP compounds on the β-GAL and β-GUD enzyme assays
A concentration of 0.1 mg·mℓ-1 of each of the phenolic compounds was added individually to the β-GAL and β-GUD assays. These were done in triplicate in microtitre 96 well plates and read in the Powerwavex under the above conditions for the respective assays. The blank consisted of buffer and substrate. The positive control consisted of buffer, enzyme and substrate and this represented 100% enzyme activity.
Two compounds (namely 4-nitrophenol and 2,4-dinitrophenol) activated β-GUD enzyme activity, as can be seen in Fig. 1. For both of these compounds the mean value exceeded the maximum absorbance of 4 mOD (milli optical density). Eight of the compounds produced an inhibitory effect (Fig. 1), with the 11th compound (2-nitrophenol) exhibiting a large negative absorbance and interfering with the β-GUD assay (data not shown).
As the compounds 4-nitrophenol and 2,4-dinitrophenol showed a dramatic activation on the β-GUD enzyme assay these were selected for further study. Furthermore, 4-nitrophenol is also the product formed during the β-GUD enzyme assay when the substrate PNPG is added. Three other PPP compounds (2,4-dimethylphenol, 4-chloro-3-methylphenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol) were also selected for further study. The results above were observed when the 11 PPP compounds were added individually at a concentration of 0.1 mg·mℓ-1 to the β-GUD enzyme assay. Statistical analysis revealed that all 5 of the selected phenolic compounds had a significant effect on the activity of β-GUD (P < 0.05 using Microsoft Excel 2003 statistical tool at 5% level of significance).
The results obtained when the 11 PPP compounds were added to the β-GAL assay showed that all the compounds (with the exception of 2-chlorophenol and 2-nitrophenol) had an inhibitory effect on the enzyme assay (see Fig. 2). The compound 2-chlorophenol resulted in a similar absorbance to the positive β-GAL control (i.e. no phenolic compound present 'Enzyme'). The compound 2,4-dichlorophenol exhibited the greatest degree of inhibition, followed closely by 4,6-dinitro-2-methylphenol; 4-chloro-3-methylphenol and pentachlorophenol.
For the β-GAL enzyme assay, 4 of the PPP compounds; namely 4-chloro-3-methylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 4,6- dinitro-2-methylphenol and pentachlorophenol, were selected for further study on the basis that these compounds exhibited the highest degree of inhibition to the activity of the β-GAL enzyme assay when added. This selection process was based on the results in Fig. 2 representing the effects of the 11 PPP compounds added at a concentration of 0.1 mg·mℓ-1 to the β-GAL enzyme assay. Statistical analysis revealed that the effects of these phenols were indeed significant. A 5th compound (2-chlorophenol) was also selected based on the fact that it is similar to chlorophenol red, which is the product formed in the β-GAL enzyme assay when the substrate CPRG is hydrolysed. However, the effect of 2-chlorophenol was not significant (P>0.05).
Types of inhibition and inhibition constants (Ki values)
Detailed investigations were performed on each of the five selected compounds for β-GAL and β-GUD. These were in the form of inhibition studies performed to test the interference of the selected phenolic compounds on the β-GUD and β-GAL assays by investigating the effects of 0.1 mg·mℓ-1 and 0.2 mg·mℓ-1 of each phenolic compound on the enzyme assays at various levels of substrate varying from 0 - 7.937 mM (for PNPG) and 0 to 1.645 mM (for CPRG). Double-reciprocal Lineweaver-Burk plots for each phenolic compound were then constructed using the data obtained. From these graphs, the type of inhibition was elucidated (Wilson and Walker, 2005). Three types of inhibition were identified; competitive, non-competitive and mixed inhibition. Secondary plots were then constructed in order for the inhibition constant Ki to be calculated (Wilson and Walker, 2005).
Both 4-chloro-3-methylphenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol demonstrated mixed inhibition in the β -GUD assay; while 2,4-dimethylphenol showed competitive inhibition (Table 1). The inhibitory effect on the β-GUD enzyme assay was attributed to 2,4-dimethylphenol competing for the same binding site as the substrate PNPG on the β-GUD molecule. The compounds 4-chloro-3-methylphenol and 2,4-dichlorophenol bound to the same active site as the substrate PNPG as well as an alternate binding site on the β-GUD enzyme molecule.
In the β-GAL enzyme assay, the types of inhibition exhibited by 4 of the PPP compounds tested were as follows: 4-chloro-3-methylphenol (competitive); 4,6-dinitro-2-methylphenol (competitive); 2,4-dichlorophenol (non-competitive) and pentachlorophenol (competitive). The 5th phenolic compound, 2-chlorophenol, exhibited no significant effect on the normal reaction observed in the absence of inhibitor. These results are listed in Table 2. The inhibition described above was attributed to 4-chloro-3-methylphenol, 4,6-dinitro-2-methylphenol and pentachlorophenol competing for the same binding site as the substrate CPRG, since this study revealed competitive inhibition. The compound 2,4-dichlorophenol also bound to an alternative binding site on the β-GAL enzyme molecule, as in the case of the non-competitive inhibition. This resulted in a decrease in velocity of the enzyme reaction.
The inhibition constants (Kis) of the PPP compounds for the 2 enzymes were generally of the same order of magnitude, indicating that these PPP compounds generally had approximately the same affinities for the 2 enzymes.
Activation of the β-GUD enzyme assay
Figure 3 illustrates the activation of the β-GUD enzyme assay with increasing concentrations of 4-nitrophenol and 2,4-dinitrophenol. At 100 µg/mℓ addition 4-nitrophenol exceeded the maximum absorbance.
This activation occurred due to the fact that the product formed in the β-GUD enzyme assay was also 4-nitrophenol, hence the activation when 4-nitrophenol and 2,4-dinitrophenol were added to the assay. These phenolic compounds are either identical (4-nitrophenol) or similar (2,4-dinitrophenol) to the product (4-nitrophenol) formed in the β-GUD enzyme assay.
Several of the 11 phenolic compounds listed by the US EPA present in the environment were therefore indeed able to affect β-GAL and β-GUD enzyme activity. There is therefore a possibility that an over- or under-estimation of β-GAL and β-GUD enzyme activities can result when these phenolic compounds are present in the environment.
The different PPP compounds clearly had varied effects on the activities of both enzymes. These effects were also concentration-dependent. These phenolic compounds competed for the same active sites as the substrates used in these assays as well as combined to alternate sites on the enzyme molecules. In mixed inhibition the inhibitors could also be binding to the enzyme-substrate complex, thereby reducing the overall velocity of the reaction.
Several of the 11 PPP compounds listed by the US EPA in the environment were able to affect β-GAL and β-GUD enzyme activities at levels of 0.1 mg·mℓ-1 or greater. Environmental samples, e.g. wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents do contain these phenolic compounds at these levels (Nistor et al., 2002). Nistor et al. (2002) reported a concentration of 0.114 mg·mℓ-1 for nitrophenol at the primary effluent stage and 0.083 mg·mℓ-1 for 2,3-dichlorophenol at the raw effluent stage. Therefore, when rapid and direct enzymatic measurement of faecal contamination is performed using these metabolic marker enzymes in effluents where high levels of PPP compounds are thought to be present, e.g. in WWTP effluents, the results may be affected by these compounds. Results using these rapid and direct enzyme assays can and should be further verified by using more traditional microbiological water quality methods for the detection of coliforms or E. coli. The rapid and direct enzyme assay methods, however, still serve as a rapid and effective early detection method for detecting the potential presence of faecal contamination in water for human consumption or recreational use.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa. Any opinion, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and therefore the NRF does not accept any liability in regard thereto.
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Received 15 May 2009; accepted in revised form 25 November 2009.
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Pat Patterson Gay -- WWE Legend Comes Out of the Closet At 73 [VIDEO]
WWE Legend Pat Patterson I'm Gay
WWE legend Pat Patterson just revealed that he's been living in the closet for the past 50 years -- and has finally decided to go public about that fact he's a gay man.
The 73-year-old dropped the news on the finale of WWE Network's "Legends' House" ... saying, "For once in my life I'm going to be me now."
Patterson -- who's a WWE exec -- explained that he's been keeping the secret out of the public eye for 5 decades ... and had a partner for roughly 40 years, but he passed away after suffering a heart attack.
Patterson has been Vince McMahon's right hand man for decades ... he also was the company's first Intercontinental champion and helped create the "Royal Rumble."
The whole thing was incredibly emotional ... and the reaction from Pat's fellow wrestling legends was touching -- with the guys telling him, "We love you Pat ... we always love you."

subset: commoncrawl


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(visited by Dan Richard)
04-Oct-2003 -- I departed Ilwaco, Washington in my 17' boat, Snafu, for the confluence at 46°N 124°W at 10:10. Ilwaco is one of the nearest ports to the mouth of the Columbia River. It's about 4 nautical miles from the Ilwaco harbor to the sometimes treacherous Columbia River bar, where the 1200 mile long river empties into the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia is the border between the states of Washington and Oregon.
Leading up to the run to the confluence, I monitored the National Weather Service forecasts, and the wind and wave observations of the Columbia River Weather Buoy on the internet. The predominent northwest wind had prevented me from visiting the confluence all summer. The forecast for Saturday looked good all week. Friday and Saturday morning the buoy observations showed little wind and relatively calm seas.
As I motored across the mouth of the river, there was virtually no wind and I had about 4 miles of visibility with very low clouds. I knew that any photos I took at the confluence were not going to do justice to the rugged beauty of the Oregon coast in the area of the confluence, but the ocean conditions were too perfect to pass up the opportunity to bag my first confluence.
By 10:30 I was across the bar and passing the buoy that marks the seaward end of the south jetty. I slowed and took the picture of the seals resting on the buoy. From here it's about 16 nautical miles on the ocean to the confluence. The GPS plotted a course to the waypoint I programmed at 46N 124W. About 5 miles from the confluence, the visibility dropped to about one nautical mile.
I arrived in the area of the confluence at about 11:25, and I was able to maneuver within about 20 feet of the exact confluence. After about 15 minutes of zigging, zagging, and circling while snapping photos of the GPS, I decided to shut off the engine and wait to see if the fog would lift since I could see only the base of 1300 foot Tillamook Head.
Although there were no other boats or humans in sight, I was not alone; I could hear hundreds of sea birds around me. Mostly, I could hear the raucus call of the female common murre as each tried to locate her "chick". The chick replies to its mother's call by whistling a tune of three notes repeated several times. These diving mother and baby bird teams dive and "fly" underwater to catch herring, anchovies, and candlefish, and have been fishing together since July when the fledglings first took to the ocean. I was surprised to see the mothers and babies still together in October since the youngsters are the same size as the adults.
I could also hear the constant roar of the surf on the sand beach that extends north from Tillamook Head past the towns of Seaside and Gearhart. Even though it was three miles away, it sounded like a freight train passing in the distance. I attributed the surf to the long 5 to 6 foot swells rolling in from the west signalling the approach of a storm that was still about two days out to sea.
After about 30 minutes of drifting, the visibility did improve somewhat. I could now see about 3 to 4 miles. In that time, I had drifted about 500 feet to the northwest. My drift was due to the ocean current and an almost imperceptable breeze.
I started the engine and motored to the southeast. I stopped a few feet southeast of the confluence and again shut of the engine. I drifted to the northwest again, and the GPS showed me closing in on the confluence point. I thought I might get within +/- 0.002 minutes of the latitude and longitude this way. But as the latitude and longitude increased, I found myself right on the confluence point! I quickly snapped a photo of the GPS and took some photos of the view toward shore and of the long-abandoned light house on Tillamook Rock.
On the run back to port, the tide was ebbing. This is the most dangerous time to cross the Columbia River bar; however, on this day because of the calm winds and relatively small difference between the high and low tides, the bar was not too dangerous to cross. I would estimate the swells were between 7 and 10 feet on the bar. I arrived back at Ilwaco at about 1:30 safe and sound.
I hope that someone else visits the confluence on a clear day to capture the beauty of the area.


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Buddha Gets Satyamev Jayate Time Slot
Forthcoming mythological TV show "Buddha" will be showcased in the same slot as the one which belonged to shows like "Mahabharat", "Ramayan" and also Aamir Khan's popular show "Satyamev Jayate".
B.K. Modi, the show's producer, is happy with the time slot.
"We are very excited to come in a prestigious slot of 'Ramayan', 'Mahabharat' and now 'Satyame Jayate'. Journey of 'Buddha' is a historical that people can watch with their families," Modi told IANS.
Directed by Dharmesh, "Buddha" is based on the life of Gautam Buddha. It will go on air Sunday 11 a.m. on Zee TV. It will be showcased every Sunday.


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Farm egg with Morels, Peas, Crème Fraiche and Basil Purée
Last week I was at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia and came across some beautiful farm eggs at an Amish farmer stand. Of course I couldn't resist buying a dozen because common sense tells me to always trust a white-bearded farmer wearing a hat and suspenders. The thing is, with good eggs, there's not too much you should do. Simple is best. In greengrocers' and farmers' markets around the country, signs of spring are all around so it was really a no-brainer to simply match them up with seasonal spring ingredients.
The arrival of fresh sweet peas, fava beans with their buttery texture and slightly bitter, nutty flavor and morels with their smoky and earthy tones is something I look forward to every year. They were sauteed in butter with shallots and finished cooking with the sunny-side-up egg. To make the flavors pop I made a basil puree and added a scoop of crème fraiche and some sun-dried tomatoes to the pan. Some cracked pepper and a sprinkle of fleur de sel to finish things up and let me tell you, this makes one fine week-end breakfast.
Farm egg with Morels, Peas, Crème Fraiche and Basil Purée
- Serves 2
For the eggs:
- 4 fresh farm eggs
- 1 handful of fresh morels, cleaned
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup fresh peas, blanched
- 1/2 cup fresh fava beans, blanched
- 1 small bunch basil, leaves only, washed
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 or 5 sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
- 2 tablespoons crème fraiche
- fleur de sel and freshly ground black pepper
For the eggs:
- Bring a small pot of water to a boil and blanch the basil leaves for 15 seconds. Drain and cool in cold running water. Squeeze out the excess water. Place in a blender with the garlic clove. Season with salt and pepper and blend while adding the olive oil until you obtain a smooth puree. Add a few tablespoons of water if necessary.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and melt the butter. Add the morels and sautee until tender. Add the shallots and cook for 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Add the peas and fava beans and sautee for a minute. Break the eggs in a bowl and add them to the skillet. Cook until set, about 2 minutes. Add a few spoonfuls of basil puree and crème fraiche to the skillet and a few slices of sun-dried tomatoes. Season with fleur de sel and freshly ground black pepper and serve immediately, in the skillet, with slices of grilled country bread.


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I figured that, since I have these steps already photographed for another entry, mainly the Vermont Sourdough post here, I may as well include them separately as their very own little "Stretch and Fold show and tell" .
More show than tell, mind you.
I hope this helps to show the technique well and let people know that there is an alternative to kneading, if you find that aspect of bread making difficult or tedious. Some people actually like kneading and feel it's a good mental zone out therapy, they just get in the groove. I like kneading, myself, and some doughs you pretty much have to knead by hand, like bagels, which is usually way too stiff for a mixer to handle.
But this is a really great way to simplify your bread making if you don't want to get into the heavy push and turn stuff. Even if you like kneading, this is a good technique to have in your bag o' tricks for those time you're just not feeling like it.
For a little more info on the ideas around the process and a couple of video clips, see the other page on this blog, Stretch and Fold: you don't need to knead.
Here it is, step by step:
With no flour on your bench, place the dough on the counter. Using a scraper to assist reaching well underneath, start to stretch the dough into a rectangle, trying to pull the dough as best you can from the centre, "pinching" with the scraper, not simply pulling the edge. Repeat for all corners.
Continue to stretch the dough into an even rectangle or square, using the scraper to reach well underneath.
With the dough now stretched into it's square-ish shape, begin by pulling the top third's edge up in the air to give it a little stretch, then fold this top third down to the centre of the rectangle. Repeat with the bottom third, stretching up slightly, then folding to the centre. Because you did not flour the counter top, the dough should adhere a little to the counter as you pull allowing you to easily stretch it a bit. (This will actually all make sense when you do it yourself.)
Moving to the left side, pull the left edge out to stretch a little, then fold to the middle.
Finally, repeat again with the right side, stretching out a little then folding to the middle. That's it, you're done.
Replace the dough into the container until the next step.


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The following obituaries were received for Friday –
William Lynden Roberts – Bedford
William Lynden Roberts, 73, of Bedford, passed away at 11:50 p.m. on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at I.U. Health Bloomington Hospice House.
Born April 12, 1939 in New Albany, IN, he was the son of Felix and Ertie (Hammons) Roberts. He married Nancy Noe on July 15, 1958 and she survives. He was a class of 1957 graduate of the Williams High School where he also played basketball. He was a district circulation manager for the Times-Mail in Bedford. He was a member of Community Baptist Church and was an avid golfer and reader. He was a member of the American Legion Gillen Post#33. He loved playing piano with various local bands, playing cards and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Lynden always had a hug for everyone he met and the best way to honor Lynden would be to pass his hugs on to others.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy of Bedford; a daughter, Julie Couch of Bedford; grandchildren, Chris Couch, Adam Couch and wife, Jessica, Carrie Couch (Zach Johnson) all of Bedford; a great grandchild, Aubrey and baby Zoey due in March; a sister, Elaine Almeda and husband Jim, of Wabash; a sister-in-law, Rosalie Roberts of Bedford; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, six sisters and one brother.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 10th in the Elmwood Chapel of the Day & Carter Mortuary with Pastor Eric Kennedy officiating. Burial will follow in Cresthaven Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, November 9th and from 10 a.m. until the hour of service on Saturday, November 10th at the Day & Carter Mortuary.
The family asks that friends consider memorial contributions be made to the LARC Center.
Family and friends are invited to sign the guest book and light a candle in memory of Lynden at
Lesa Karen Beedie Bell – Bedford
Lesa Karen Beedie Bell, 53, of Bedford, passed away on Wednesday, November 7, 2012, at 10:09 a.m. at IU Health Bloomington Hospital.
Born March 20, 1959 in Bedford, she was the daughter of Clyde and Janice (Mills) Beedie. She married Mike Bell in November 1998, and he survives. She was a graduate of Bedford North Lawrence High School with the Class of 1977. She was a hairdresser and also worked at General Electric. She was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. Lesa enjoyed cooking, spending time with her family and friends, and attending concerts with her daughter, Lindsey.
Surviving are her husband, Mike Bell of Bedford; one daughter, Lindsey Terrell and husband, Zach, of Mitchell; one stepson, Logan Bell of Bedford; one brother, Mike Beedie and his wife, Tina, of Bedford; two sisters, Debbie Gratzer and her husband, Paul, of Bedford, and Janna Abell and her husband, Tim, of Springville; two grandsons, Andrew and Lance Terrell of Mitchell; several nieces and nephews, and her mother-in-law, Wilma Griffin of Bloomington.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, November 12, 2012, at 1 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, with Fr. Rick Eldred and Deacon Dave Reising officiating. Burial will be in Green Hill Cemetery.
Friends may call on Sunday, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Ferguson-Lee Funeral Home, with Rosary prayed at 5:30 p.m. There will also be calling at the funeral home on Monday at noon until service hour.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.fergusonlee.com.


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Venus Williams and her EleVen line continue to run around like headless chickens, showing off outfits — one prettier than the next — even after their backer, Steve & Barry, declared bankruptcy a while back.
And for the 2009 French Open, Venus follows up her Hypercolor spring dress with this abstract take on animal print, which reminds us of Matthew Williamson's recent collection for H&M. (If you haven't seen the latter, click here for the tiger/butterfly dress and here for the peacock-themed goods.)
Scoreline: Venus beat former fashion great Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the first round, and faces Lucie Safarova (sigh, that once would have been a juicy contest) in the second round. Venus will likely run into Li Na in the fourth; TSF predicts that the Chinese player will take out Sharapova in the round prior — you heard it here first!
Up close: This Venus dress is the same as the one she wore from Miami through Warsaw. See some more pics of the outfit in action after the cut…
(images via Getty Images)


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Is it dangerous to have several parallel jobs create the same directory using mkdir -p
? (This is under Linux.)
In my case, I send many jobs to a SUN grid to process them in parallel, and some of these jobs start by creating a certain directory foo
. So, the execution of the different mkdir
commands might happen at exactly the same time ...


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The Pound Ridge native racked up another dominating victory on "Jeopardy!" Monday, his 10th win in a row. Rogers, who has become a national sensation during his streak, goes for No. 11 on WABC Channel 7 at 2:07 a.m., due to the New Jersey gubernatorial debate.
On Monday's episode, Rogers, a graduate of Fox Lane High School, easily dispatched his two competitors, entering "Final Jeopardy!" without the chance of being beaten.
The category was historical areas and the answer was: An ancient quote mentions this area and three population groups, the Belgae, Aquitani and Celts.
The question was: What is Gaul, which Rogers answered correctly.
Rogers, who grew up on the Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, has won $365, 400 over the course of his winning streak.
For previous stories on Rogers, click here, here and here.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Armonk and receive free news updates.


text: Sale 679: Art & Illustration - Fine Books (#679) 07/25/2019 11:00 AM PDT Closed Starts Ending 07/25/2019 11:00 AM PDT Auction Info Sale closed View all lots Description Section I: Art & Illustration – Children's Books, Lots 1-230 Section II: Fine Books – Literature, History, Science, Religion & more, Lots 231-339 Section III: Lots sold without reserve, following Lot 339 Over 450 lots of prints, graphics, original artwork, and other visual materials; illustrated books; artist's books; children's books; art reference; plate books, and more, from the 17th to 21st centuries. Plus, a selection of fine books in a variety of fields, with literature, history, religion, science, finely bound and finely printed books. Previews: Monday, July 22nd, 1pm - 5pm Tuesday, July 23rd, 9am - 5pm Wednesday, July 24th, 9am - 5pm Thursday, July 25th, 9am - 11am PBA Dynamic Bidding When you place an absentee bid online, PBA's Dynamic Bidding will calculate your absentee bid against competing absentee bids and determine the current high bid amount. So, for example, if you place an absentee bid of $200 on an item with a minimum bid of $100, you will be notified that you are the high bidder and the bid is at $100. If a second bidder then places a bid of $150, your bid will be incremented up to $160. The under bidder will also be notified by email that their bid was outbid with a link to the item to enter a higher bid if desired. The current high bid will be the starting bid when the lot comes up in the live auction itself. In addition to providing full transparency, Dynamic Bidding will allow you to make more informed decisions. Shipping info We have a full service shipping department to ensure proper packing and safe delivery of purchases at reasonable cost. We are specialists at packing and shipping books and works on paper. All lots purchased by the same client are combined for shipping in order to keep the cost as economical as possible. Our preferred method for domestic shipments is UPS Ground but we can also ship via FedEx or USPS Priority Mail. We do NOT ship USPS Media Mail under any circumstances.For international orders we select the most appropriate carrier depending on the value and weight of the items purchased. We are happy to accommodate special arrangements by request. Invoices are sent out the day following the auction and include a minimum $10 handling fee plus actual shipping and insurance charges. Shipping estimates can be obtained by contacting [email protected] prior to the auction. Terms and conditions CONTRACTS All accepted bids are contracts and are considered final and non withdrawable. BUYER'S PREMIUM A buyer's premium of 20% will be applied to all purchases. ONLINE BIDDING The person posting the bids online has to be the person who has registered for the auction.


text: Observational astronomy has deep roots in the Puebloan world of the Desert Southwest. Archaeological evidence suggests that the ancestral Pueblo Indians (Anasazi) marked astronomical events, perhaps as guides or records of their agricultural and ceremonial calendar. Rock art and architecture throughout the Four Corners area were carefully placed so that beams of sunlight would interact with rock images on important seasonal days such as equinoxes and solstices, marking the days with remarkably high precision.


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The just announced Pentax Optio RZ18 camera doesn't look even close to the previously leaked/rumored images which means that there will be another point and shoot camera with a swivel display coming soon.
Pentax Optio RZ18 camera press release:
GOLDEN, CO. (September 12, 2011)…PENTAX Imaging Company announced the Optio RZ18 digital compact camera. Featuring a slim, lightweight body, the new model offers a powerful 18X optical zoom lens covering focal lengths from 25mm wide angle to 450mm super-telephoto (in the 35mm format). The Optio RZ18 is the latest addition to the RZ zoom lens series, which provides photographers simple, effortless shooting of a wide variety of subjects and occasions, from travel and landscape to action and spectator sports.
The Optio RZ18 features include:
• Generous 18X zoom (equivalent to 25-450mm) with extra wide angle lens captures subjects near and far.
• High resolution 16 megapixel sensor for large prints or aggressive image cropping.
• Slim footprint for outstanding portability and inconspicuous use.
• Multiple PENTAX Shake Reduction (SR) image stabilization options, including sensor-shift SR, for sharp images in any lighting.
• Large 3 inch LCD with HVGA resolution (460,000 dots).
• Powerful automatic shooting modes such as Auto Picture and scene modes take the guesswork out of great photography.
• Creative special effects filters add artistic flair to the common snapshot.
• Advanced 9-point autofocus with a 4cm super macro mode.
• Face detection for perfectly focused and exposed portraits, includes a dedicated pet recognition feature.
• Widescreen HD video in 720p at 30 frames per second.
The Optio RZ18 will available in black, pearl white or metallic orange for $299.95USD in October 2011.
PENTAX Imaging Company is a leader in the production of a variety of adventure ready digital cameras including weather-resistant digital SLRs and stylish, compact, waterproof cameras, as well as lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, and eyepieces. For more than 90 years, PENTAX has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of adventurous consumers and businesses. With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of Hoya Corporation.
18X optical zoom lens with 25mm wide-angle coverage to handle a variety of subjects and scenes
The Optio RZ18 features a high-performance 18X optical zoom lens covering focal lengths from 25mm wide angle to 450mm super-telephoto (in the 35mm format). The extra-wide zoom range captures a wide range of subjects and scenes — from spectacular landscapes to fast-action sports events. It also offers high-quality macro shooting down to just four centimeters from the subject and a digital wide function for an ultra-wide-angle image (equivalent to an image taken with an approximately 19mm lens in the 35mm format) from two separate images. An Intelligent Zoom function further extends the zoom range to approximately 130 times to cover the focal length of an approximately 3250mm super-telephoto lens (in the 35mm format).
Exceptional image quality assured by latest super-resolution technology
With 16 effective megapixels, a high-performance smc PENTAX zoom lens and the advanced image processing system — a system that uses the latest super-resolution technology to optimize image quality through meticulous section-by-section treatment of the captured image — the Optio RZ18 delivers well-defined, high-quality images with extra-fine resolution. Even when images are enlarged to large sizes, the user is assured of sharp, high-resolution prints with edge-to-edge sharpness.
Multiple Shake Reduction for sharp, blur-free images
With a sensor-shift Shake Reduction (SR) mechanism and Pixel Track SR, the Optio RZ18's dual shake reduction effectively reduces camera shake to a minimum for more blur-free images even under shake-prone shooting conditions such as when using the telephoto lens or when shooting at sunset or in indoor scenes. Other SR options include traditional high ISO Digital SR and Movie SR for steady video recording.
Extra-large 3 inch LCD monitor
The Optio RZ18 features an HVGA high-resolution 3 inch color LCD monitor. This extra-large monitor provides a clear view of images and menus so photographers easily may check captured images and menu settings. The Optio RZ18 also offers a setting to magnify the letters displayed, by which users can further enhance the legibility of the menus and the operability of the camera.
Auto Picture mode
The Optio RZ18 features the PENTAX-original Auto Picture mode, which automatically selects the most appropriate shooting mode for a given subject or scene by accurately assessing various photographic conditions on and around the subject. This user-friendly mode selects one of 16 shooting modes (including Blue Sky, Sunset, Pet, and many more) and optimizes various camera settings (including sensitivity and shutter speed)
for better results with minimal effort.
Upgraded Pet mode for automatic detection of dog and cat faces
The Optio RZ18 features the latest version of the Pet mode, which comes in handy when taking pictures of dogs and cats. This unique mode not only detects the faces of dogs and cats with great accuracy, but it also gives priority to three pre-registered pet faces over unregistered ones, so that users can effortlessly focus on and expose for their own pets when in a group of pets.
High-quality HDTV movie recording
The Optio RZ18 captures beautiful, 720p high-definition-TV-quality movie clips (1280 x 720 pixels).* It also comes equipped with the sophisticated Movie Shake Reduction (SR) mode,** which automatically compensates camera shake during movie shooting with the help of exclusive software. With the Optio RZ18, everyone can enjoy high-quality movie shooting with minimal effort.
* When the Optio RZ18's AV output terminal is used, movie clips are output as normal image-size data. If the user wishes to play back movie clips at high-definition TV proportions (1280 x 720 pixels), the data must be transferred to a personal computer for playback.
** When the Movie SR mode is selected, the angle of view becomes narrower than normal shooting.
Automatic face detection for beautiful, lively snapshots
The Optio RZ18 features the sophisticated Face Detection AF & AE function. This sophisticated feature instantly and accurately detects as many as 32 faces within the image field, then catches them in sharp focus and optimum exposure in a mere 0.03 seconds — even when some of the faces are tilted or turned away from the camera. To assist the photographer in capturing beautiful, lively snapshots, the Optio RZ18 also comes equipped with other user-friendly features, including:
• Smile Capture mode that automatically releases the shutter the moment the camera detects the subject's smile
• Blink Detection function that warns the photographer when the subject's eyes close at the time of shutter release.
Additional Features
• Wireless remote-control shooting using an optional PENTAX infrared remote controllers
• Burst shooting of up to 40 images, at a maximum speed of approximately 9 images per second
• Digital filters, including Miniature, Toy Camera, and more to add creative visual effects
• Choice of three image ratios (4:3, 16:9 and 1:1) to accommodate different shooting applications
• D-Range setting to prevent whitewashed (overexposed) and blacked-out (underexposed) areas in an image
• Digital Panorama mode to effortlessly create a single panoramic picture from as many as three images
• Image viewing, editing and filing software included: MediaImpression 3.1 for PENTAX (Windows version compatible with Windows 7) and MediaImpression 2.1 for PENTAX (Macintosh version compatible with Mac OS X 10.7)
• Eye-Fi connected experience: optimized for use with Eye-Fi wireless memory cards


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Scientists disagree on responsible research
"We have, on the one hand, scientists who are convinced that they should be left alone in their ivory tower and that neither politicians nor the general public should interfere with their research activities. In their eyes, the key to conducting responsible science is to protect it from external interest because that will introduce harmful biases. Science should therefore be completely independent and self-regulated in order to be responsible," says communication researcher Maja Horst from the University of Copenhagen. She continues:
"But, on the other hand, there are scientists who believe that the ivory tower should have an open door so that politicians, publics and industry can take part in the development of science. Such engagement is seen as the only way to ensure that science develops in accordance with the needs and values of society, and thereby fulfils its social responsibilities."
In collaboration with PhD student Cecilie Glerup from Copenhagen Business School, Maja Horst has analysed more than 250 scientific journal articles all concerned with the role of research in society and particularly the notion of responsibility. The results of their analyses have just been published in the Journal of Responsible Innovation.
"We can conclude that all the scientists are deeply concerned that their research is responsible and useful to society; they just disagree about what it means to conduct responsible research – how transparent the ivory tower should be, if you like. This is a problem because if we have different definitions of what it means to be a responsible scientist, it becomes very difficult to have a fruitful discussion about it. It also makes it very difficult to be specific about how we want scientists to act in order to be responsible."
The GMO debate has scared off scientists
According to Maja Horst, discussions about responsible research are particularly important in light of the fact that entire research areas may be at risk if they are perceived to be irresponsible or controversial.
"Scientists within stem cell research, nanotechnology, or synthetic biology, which is about designing biological organisms, pay a great deal of attention to the way in which their research area is presented in the media and perceived by the public. They all saw how the GMO debate – about research into genetically modified organisms – ended in a deadlock that had serious consequences for robust research projects which simply could not attract funding. No one wanted to be associated with GMO research after the heated debates", explains Maja Horst and adds:
"With a more balanced discussion of the role and responsibilities of scientists and society, we might have avoided the extremely rigid positions, for or against GMO, which dominated the debate."
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Story highlights
Chelsea face struggle to qualify for knockout stages of Champions League
The club thanked Di Matteo for his "huge contribution"
Chelsea say they will soon make an announcement about a new manager
The club are now looking for ninth different manager under owner Roman Abramovich
Just six months after leading Chelsea to European Champions League and English FA Cup glory Roberto di Matteo has been sacked by the English Premier League club.
He was sacked just hours after Tuesday's 3-0 defeat to Juventus left Chelsea on the brink of becoming the first defending champions to be eliminated in the group stages of the Champions League.
Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who took over the club in 2003, is now looking for his ninth manager, with all the indications a replacement has already been found.
Blog: Was Di Matteo the architect of his own downfall?
"The club will be making an announcement shortly regarding a new first team manager," said a statement on the Chelsea website.
Third in the English Premier League despite a series of injuries to key players, Chelsea is on a run of just one win in five league matches and face league leaders Manchester City on Sunday, with the league champions four points ahead of the London side.
Read: Cech wants "racism" saga sorted
Explaining the Italian's dismissal, Chelsea thanked Di Matteo for his"huge contribution" but also said the team's results had "not been good enough".
"The owner and the board felt that a change was necessary now to keep the club moving in the right direction as we head into a vitally important part of the season," added the Chelsea statement.
Managerial change
In order to reach the last 16 of the Champions League, Chelsea must beat Danish side Nordsjaelland in the final round of group matches and hope Ukrainian group leaders Shakhtar Donetsk defeat Juventus.
Former Chelsea midfielder Di Matteo took over first team duties following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas in March 2011.
The former West Bromwich Albion manager guided Chelsea to English FA Cup success, beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final, before leading the west London club to its first Champions League triumph in May.
The penalty shootout victory over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena helped convince Abramovich that Di Matteo deserved the job on a full-time basis and the Italian was handed a two-year contract in June 2012.
Eight full-time managers have worked under Abramovich since he took control of Chelsea in 2003.
Tuesday's defeat came off the back of Saturday's 2-1 loss at Di Matteo's former club West Brom.
John Terry
Despite attacking players such as Brazilian playmaker Oscar and Belgian forward Eden Hazard impressing since arriving during the last preseason, Chelsea has struggled defensively.
Key has been the recent absence of captain John Terry who had to serve a four-match ban for racially abusing an opponent before picking up a knee injury in a 1-1 draw against Liverpool earlier this month.
With Terry in and out of the team, Chelsea has conceded 20 goals in its last 10 matches in all competitions.
Much of Di Matteo's tenure was overshadowed by the racism scandal which engulfed Terry and the club.
Former England captain Terry was cleared by a London magistrate's court of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand but was then found guilty by an English FA tribunal.
Di Matteo, whose team began the season with a 4-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the European Super Cup, has also failed to bring the best form out of Fernando Torres – the striker who Abramovich splashed out $80 million to recruit from Liverpool.
Spain international Torres, who won the golden boot at this year's Euro 2012 tournament, has scored just four goals this season and looks a shadow of the player who shone during four seasons at Anfield.
Media reports are already linking Torres' former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez with the job. The Spaniard has been out of work since being sacked by Inter Milan in January 2011.
Former Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola is also being linked with the Stamford Bridge vacancy. Guardiola led Barca to 14 titles in four years before stepping down from the Nou Camp hotseat at the end of last season. The former Barca captain is currently on sabbatical in the United States.


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Personal service, a high gastronomic standard, individual travel programme and excellent interiors: you will experience this comfort on the newcomer to the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises fleet in a modern and casual atmosphere.
The route concept concentrates on four regions: Western Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean, Arabian Peninsula and Asia. In fulfilment of the wishes of our guests these will be shorter, mostly seven-day voyages. Many routes will be offered on different dates and can be combined flexibly to form longer, fantastic stays on board.
The interior concept follows current design trends and is a successful mixture of casual and stylish ambience with state-of-the-art technology. Hardly any other ship offers more space per guest as EUROPA 2 since, after all is said and done, well-being is also measured in square metres. For this reason it goes without saying that all the suites on board EUROPA 2 have a spacious veranda. Life on board sets its own standards: more lifestyle and less cruise rituals contribute towards a more informal atmosphere. The low number of passengers of max. 516 guests and the crew/guest ratio that exceeds this figure ensure that exclusiveness and relaxation are guaranteed from the very first moment onwards.
Besides culinary diversity and luxurious surroundings, wellness, fitness and a multi-facetted entertainment programme are the highlights of EUROPA 2. All these features can be enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere and, of course, at the unique high standard that you expect of a ship that proudly bears the name EUROPA.Experience the new way of enjoying luxury in a relaxed ambience. We look forward to greeting you on board MS EUROPA 2
Currently we have no results for this ship, please click here to start a search and find something for you!


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You may remember that we've previously had a look at a couple of Mad Professor effects pedals: the Mellow Yellow Tremelo and the Fire Red Fuzz.
Suitably impressed, we raved about the features and, but choked a little at price tags that started from. They were hand-wired, but still…
Well aware that the only grumbles is has received regarding its pedals were sparked by the prices, the Finnish company is now offering a number of its stompboxes in a PCB (printed circuit board) format, with the pots, switch and jack sockets mounted on the board.
The use of PCBs has brought the price of the pedals down by a fair margin. That's great, but has tweaking the spec impacted on the brand's hard-earned reputation for great tone?
The Ruby Red Booster is, you got it, a booster pedal. It's not just a clever name. That said, the Ruby Red can be used as a regular booster, a treble booster and even as an overdrive pedal. Which is groovy, but that's not all it can do.
You can also use the pedal as a buffer to prevent treble and volume loss when you have a whole shop's worth of gear on your pedalboard, or ridiculously long Albert Collins-style cables.
The buffer is activated by a switch inside the pedal that offers a choice between 'true bypass' or 'buffer on' in bypass mode.
The Ruby Red has three controls: master, boost and treble. Like other Mad Professor pedals, its components are protected by a tough metal case and access to the battery involves removing four screws. Awkward.
We test the Ruby Red's mettle by putting it through a small valve-powered stack, which doesn't exactly have the most satisfying clean and overdriven tones around - can the Ruby Red help?
Deciding to go a bit old school, we add a touch of gain on the amp and use the Ruby Red to boost the signal. The difference is incredible, with organic and harmonically rich overdrive flowing from the amp's speaker cabinet.
It's ideal for classic '60s and '70s- style blues and rock tones - think the Beano album, Led Zep, even Rory Gallagher.
Mad Professor will still make you a hand-wired version of all these pedals if you wish. The thing is, based on the quality of the sounds on offer from these lower-cost factory models, we don't think you need to splash out all that extra lolly.
We'd be surprised if many people could really hear the difference between the hand-wired and circuit board jobs anyway. Utilising a PCB construction hasn't diluted any of the wow factor that you equate with Mad Professor pedals.


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Metropolitan Transportation Commission Chairman Steve Heminger said today that test results showing that most steel rods on the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge are safe are "very good news."
However, Heminger said more testing needs to be completed before it can be concluded that most of the rods, which secure earthquake shock absorbers to the deck of the eastern span, don't need to be replaced.
In March 2013, about one-third of the initial batch of 96 bolts that secure the shock absorbers to the deck failed when they were tightened.
Caltrans figured out a temporary solution that allowed the new eastern span to open on schedule last Labor Day and completed a permanent fix in December.
Heminger's remarks about the rods on the new eastern span came after engineers briefed the Metropolitan Transportation Commission's Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee, which oversees Bay Bridge construction, about tests of about 2,600 bolts on the new eastern span.
Brian Maroney, Caltrans' chief engineer, said there is no "clear evidence" from the tests that other rods could fail like the group that snapped last year, which he described as "inferior."
Engineer Marwan Nader of T.Y. Lin International, which designed the new eastern span, said, "We've determined that these rods are safe."
Heminger said he interprets the test results so far as meaning, "You don't do anything new, steady as she goes."
But Heminger said the situation still needs to be monitored closely and it's still too soon to rule out the possibility that some of the rods will have to be replaced in the future.
The panel, which consists of Heminger and the heads of Caltrans and the California Transportation Commission, also agreed today to pay $3 million to fix several mistakes with the new eastern span, including rust-stained paint, misaligned rods and malfunctioning scaffolds.
The work, which will be performed by the span's main contractor, the joint venture American Bridge/Fluor, is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
In addition, the oversight committee voted to spend $1.7 million to protect birds that nest at the new eastern span.
Jeff Shuttleworth, Bay City News


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Your approach may need a makeover.
By Michelle Lewis — Written on Dec 10, 2018
Photo: getty
Too often, I see women devastated by their dating experiences. Despite their best efforts, men never treat them the way they deserve to be treated.
Their lack of success in dating has very little to do with the men they date. Rather, they become too emotionally entrenched in the experience too quickly and fail to see how they create problematic dating dynamics.
You see, I used to make these same mistakes until I took dating advice to heart, recognized my part in the process, and began dating and eventually married a man who treats me the way I deserve to be treated.
For women looking for how to find love, here are some rules you should always follow if you want success.
RELATED: If He Has These 4 Qualities, He's A High-Quality Man (Don't Let Him Go!)
1. Get off the pity train.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Let go of the self-defeating thoughts holding you back. How fun is it to hang out with someone who only puts themselves down?
Think about how people are drawn to someone with confidence. A person with confidence seems to love life. They don't complain about themselves. It is a much more pleasant experience. If you don't feel confident, fake it until you do. You will probably see a difference in how people interact with you.
2. Never cry about a boy.
I mean it. Never cry about a boy — they aren't worth it. Sure, there are some jerks out there. Don't give them your power by allowing yourself to feel bad.
We train people how to treat us. If you can work on your assertiveness and confidence, you will find a relationship with someone who respects you. Until then, it will just be the same guy with a different name.
3. Keep an air of mystery.
This is a big one. We all have baggage. Over the course of a relationship, your significant other will learn more about you. Until that point, don't over-share.
This especially applies to telling a man how you feel about him. If you have been dating for two weeks and think he might be the one, don't tell him! Although, if after two weeks you do start fantasizing about marriage and children, we need to talk.
Slow yourself down and find a distraction. There is no way you know enough about him that quickly to make a life-long commitment. If that is where your mind is, you are missing some key data.
4. Only put in a 30 percent effort.
This sounds harsh, but it is true. The feminists are going to hate me on this one, but I think "I am woman, hear me roar" has done us a disservice in the dating department. Think about it in mathematical terms: if you put in 100 percent effort, how much is left for him to give?
Honestly, when it comes to dating, less is more. The less effort you put in, the more he has to come forward. This becomes diagnostic of how invested he is in you. If he doesn't come forward, run, do not walk. If he is putting so little effort into your dating relationship, what will happen once he gets comfortable?
5. Make him come to you.
This is especially true for the first few dates. If you go to his house on the first date instead of him coming to pick you up, I have two words for you: booty call. If he isn't willing to invest the energy to at least come pick you up and have something planned for the evening, just say no. If he asks you to come to him and has no game plan, he is just looking to hook up.
A man who genuinely wants to spend time getting to know you will put in the effort.
RELATED: 15 Real Men Reveal Their #1 Struggle When It Comes To Relationships
6. Never see him with less than a seven days' notice.
This doesn't have to be hard and fast, but the point is that you should not accept a date on Wednesday or Thursday for that weekend. You are a busy woman. He needs to plan ahead if he wants your time.
Men are by the thrill of the chase. A woman who has nothing going on and is always at their beck and call is not desirable for a relationship. She is desirable for hooking up. So, let me ask you: do you want to be an afterthought or do you want to be respected?
7. Never call him unless returning a call.
Don't be clingy. I can't emphasize this enough. Men will easily get turned off by a woman who calls or texts too much. It is overwhelming and can end a relationship before it starts. Again, you are a busy woman. You have so many people and activities competing for your time and attention. You don't have time to call him.
Let him call you at least for the first couple of months. Again, this becomes diagnostic of how much energy he wants to invest. After your relationship is more established, call him but still limit how much you do call. He is not a girlfriend with whom you should spend hours on the phone. If he has hours to spend on the phone, he can use the effort to see you.
8. Never return a call or text immediately.
Remember, you are busy, busy, busy. Don't sit by the phone waiting for a call or text. If this is anxiety provoking, find some other way to spend your time. You can bet he isn't sitting by the phone waiting for you to call. Meanwhile, your life is passing you by. Get out there and live it.
9. Do not get physical.
Hopefully, by this point, this goes without saying. For the first couple of months, you should limit your physical intimacy. Remember, men like a challenge. This, however, is not to say that they like a tease.
Don't expect, like one unfortunate woman I know, a man to be okay with sleeping over in your bed without having sex. This kind of mind game is disrespectful on your part. You cannot expect anyone to be okay with you sending mixed messages.
Related Stories From YourTango:
If he is pushing for more intimacy, let him know that you don't feel comfortable with that until you know each other better. You need to respect your body.
10. Let go of the outcome.
This is no indication of your worth as a person. So many women are devastated when a first date does not become a relationship. They think it is because they are not pretty enough, smart enough, successful enough or fun enough. They don't even stop to consider whether or not they even like the guy.
Date like a man. Show up, have fun and if it works out, great. If not, on to the next one. Will following these rules help you get married or learn how to find love? Maybe, maybe not. But by following this dating advice, you will quickly be able to weed out people who are not worth your time and energy.
It may seem like adhering to these rules would be "playing games." It isn't a game. It's about showing someone you are worthy of their respect.
The bottom line is that if you don't respect yourself, no one else will either. Just like interviewing for a job, you need to make sure the man is someone you want, not just concern yourself with whether or not he wants you.
RELATED: 5 Ways Smart, Savvy, Empowered Women Date Very Differently
Michelle Lewis is a wellness counselor. Follow her on Facebook or Twitter (@LewisCounseling) for more information.


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A very gallant Dr. Charles Asher Small just delivered an important lecture at the 92nd St Y. in New York. Yes, this is the same Dr. Small who, in 2004, founded the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP), which he housed at Yale University from 2006-2011-until the Yale Corporation decided that the Center's work on Islamic Judeophobia and specifically on Iranian genocidal Judeophobia threatened Yale's "scholarly commitments" in the region.
Who could make this up?
This was the first time that Dr. Small spoke about this publicly.
Dr. Small is Canadian and grew up in Montreal. He speaks in a restrained and reasonable way about outrages and injustices. He is a gentleman and a scholar.
I was privileged to have met him in 2003 and to have worked with him while he was at Yale. I have also written about his work and its tragic demise at Yale.
This time, Dr. Small named names.
But, he first wondered why Israel, which is blamed for every conceivable wrong, is also to blame for whatever problems American Jews are having in terms of communal identity or renewal. He wondered how different American Jews and Jewish leaders are today when compared to the American Jewish leaders in the 1920s and 1930s, as economic problems worsened and a virulent antisemitism arose. "Sound familiar?", he asked.
Dr. Small noted that antisemitism is different from all the other 'isms' such as racism and sexism. "It is inherently genocidal," he said. It was "genocidal during the religious era when Jews were the wrong religion" and were accused of holding back the Messianic age by both "refusing to convert to Christianity" and for having committed "deicide." And it is genocidal today. But there is a taboo today at work that impedes any rational search for the truth.
Small went on to say that no one is examining radical Islamic ideology No one is questioning the dominant world view. Instead, everyone is into postmodernism, cultural relativism and politically correct non-judgementalism. He defined anyone who has been formerly colonized as being a victim whose customs and traditions cannot be judged.
Charles and I agree on this new and clever form of racism and paternalism. Universal rights for me and thee – but not for the female victims of honor killing, forced child marriage, female genital mutilation, and forced veiling. Religious rights for Muslims in the West, but the lethal persecution of Christians, Hindus, and Jews in "Muslim lands."
Meanwhile, Charles' Institute at Yale was vibrant, dynamic and thriving. About 3 and a half years ago, a philanthropist offered Charles and his Institute five million dollars if Yale would raise 15-20 million dollars. Dr. Small delivered a strategic business plan. The development office said it was "wonderful."
But the environment changed when the current Iranian regime suddenly listed Yale as an "enemy of the revolution." Small and his Institute were blamed by some for having gotten Yale in trouble, resulting in Yale's telling Small to stop dealing with radical Islam, radical Islamic Judeophobia, and Iran. Absent his dealing with those topics, he was told, he could enjoy a long and happy career at Yale.
But Radical Political Islam, not Islam the religion, not the Muslim people, but Radical Political Islam, the genocidal movement, is a key part of the irrational hatred against Jews and Israel in today's world. When Charles convened in August of 2010, the largest academic world conference on global antisemitism to have ever been held, Radical Political Islam was part of the discussion. It couldn't be ignored. It was not the focal point of the conference. It wasn't even mentioned by most of the speakers. But it was included in some presentations by a few of the 107 speakers from 23 countries who made up the program.
What was to come was signalled when the assembled conference attendees were welcomed rather sourly by associate Yale Provost, Frances Rosenbluth. Before a word was spoken or paper presented, she warned that the scholarship to be presented needed be constrained and she pre-emptively labeled outcomes when she said presenters were "not to engage in Islamophobia."
A young Palestinian actively blogged throughout the conference and in real time characterized speakers as "racists" and "Islamophobes." Instead of measured analysis, dialogue and prudent deliberation, his name calling reverberated across the internet kicking off a firestorm which resulted, three days later, in the newly appointed PLO "ambassador" in D.C. writing to Yale President Levin charging Yale with "racism."
Here's the thing. Tell the truth about Radical Political Islamism and you will be branded a racist. Dare expose the Muslim practice of slavery, imperialism, colonialism, religious intolerance, and gender apartheid and you will find yourself branded a "conservative racist" and therefore demonized.
It happened to me early on, between 2003-2005.
It has happened to every single truth teller ever since, including Dr. Charles Small.
Small and his colleagues were attacked irrationally. National Public Radio chimed in and a Yale Professor accused the Institute of being similar to Black Panthers. The chorus grew and Yale had its excuse to end its relationship with the Institute and Charles Small. In so doing, Yale confiscated the film of the conference, framed a report which it marked 'confidential' (something they'd never done before in this kind of circumstance) and didn't allow Charles Small or any of his colleagues at Yale to see it. These actions could hold the record for abruptness and lack of considered process extended when compared to all other departures. Adding insult to injury, with several week's notice, Yale asked Charles Small to leave.
But it is now a year later and this quiet talk to a hushed audience at the 92nd St. Y marked the beginning of a new chapter in the struggle to tell the truth and expose the deception that is going on behind the curtain in academia today. The whole episode at Yale was instructive and underlines the urgent need for an independent institution that studies antisemitism in real time, and not merely as an historical artifact and novelty. Antisemtism is as virulent, threatening and genocidal as it has ever been and the need for a Charles Small and an organization like ISGAP, that is not afraid to seek the truth, is more pressing than it has ever been. If not now, when.


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Okay let's start this off by saying not a single one of us here can sing like Mariah Carey…not driving down the street with the windows rolled up, not in the shower…not even in the comfort of our own imaginations!
However, our friends over at Eben Gregory pointed something out about a recent Carey performance that made us wonder what happened? It seems here we are again faced with what appears to be the smoke and mirrors of TV as it pertains to a Mariah Carey live performance and we have to ask what you think!
In a recent appearance on The Today Show…Mariah gave an awesome sauce performance to the crowd. She sang "Always Be My Baby" and the crowd was delighted. But…there were two different versions of how that song went. In the first version that Today aired she got through it pretty well. Check it out in the video below!
But…in the version that an excited fan was recording, well let's just say things didn't quite go the same way! Start watching at around the 2:25 mark of the video!
See! When she pulled the mic back and got to singing for her life….there was NO SOUND! Oops! We sort of wonder if maybe one of the versions was a sound check? But that might just be wishful thinking.
And to reiterate we all know Mariah Carey can sing her face off!
We also think she looked not quite herself in the video. Everyone is suffering from seasonal allergies, sinus infections and there is a nasty cold going around that has knocked a lot of people on their behinds in the last few weeks. So, it's completely possible that any of these reasons could be why she didn't seem to be our usual bubbly Mariah.
But we will say this…it's not the first time she's been busted this way so it's got tongues wagging about what's really going on with her. Stop giving people stuff to speak about Mrs. Cannon! If you aren't feeling up to the task…don't do it! Your voice is a national treasure so we want you to protect it! Because there are many things we'd like to be able to say we conquered in this life…but singing better than you is definitely not one them!
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text: O K boys & girls .... I have managed to make the Darts and make the bracket/bar ( though as you can see they need to be cut off at the side ) but here is where I'm stuck . 1st , I cant figure out how to cut those darts on angle which by the way has to be exact. I tried dremel , I tried hacksaw .... I even tried my belt & disk sander ( by the way when aluminum heats up MAN , it heats up fast !! I now have 2 blisters to prove it ) which is very difficult to grind on an extreme angle by hand especially as how the dart at this is so small and impossible to hang onto without loosing or sanding a finger ..OUCH !! 2nd , how do I attach ( assuming I/we figure out the angle thing ) the dart to the bar ( which is on an extreme angle ) securely .I have ( thinking out loud ) a tap to thread the dart... locTite to secure it . But what about the angle? The screw cant go in straight ...How do I drill the hole in the bar ( again on an angle ) to take the machine screw ? HELP !!! I've come to the people .... take it away !!!


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Posted by Editor on 11/24/98
7th Annual Winter W.O.W. MTB Tour
Maybe it should be the "Global Warming November Ride"! Doesn't look like any snow for this weekend, but we're riding anyway. Our annual MTB tour at the Mansfield Outdoor Centre happens Sunday, November 29th at 10:30AM. The ride lasts from 3-4 hours depending upon trail conditions. Lots of single track and some good hills and great times. It's always one of our favourite rides and an excellent way to wrap up the season. Registration includes water bottle, energy bar, lunch (with Joan's Killer Brownies) and there will be some draw prizes too! Cost is $25 up until Nov. 25 - add $5 after that. Registration is limited to 75. We've still got spaces left right now but get your registration in soon. If you procrastinate please call us before you show up 'cause we might be full. W.O.W. (Wizard Of Wheels) phone is 905-567-7593. Registration forms are on our website at www.wowmtb.com (Tours Page). Hope to see you there!
Seattle Report
(courtesy Geoff Kabush)
Here is a little report from the west coast Canadian attack on the SuperCup.
Three Canadians; Carter Hovey (Rocky Mountain), Andrew Pinfold (Neworld Cycle), and myself (Geoff Kabush - Kona Factory) went down for a wet Seattle weekend.
SuperCup #4 was at the South SeaTac race course which thanks to the rain turned into a bit of a spoogefest. The mud turned out to be the main factor on the course with the power riders turning out on top. Locals Dale Knapp and John Sundt went 1-2. Due to our late registration and lack of SuperCup points all three of us Canadians started on almost the back row of the 83 man field. Myself and Carter fought up to 17th and 21st by the end of the day with Pinner succumbing to technical problems. Sad note of the day was third elite woman Mary McConneloug returned to the parking area after the race to find her car and bike, along with her wallet, gone.
Day Two was contested on a just as wet but firmer North SeaTac course. A faster pace and shorter race made for more exciting racing. I managed to talk myself up to a better start position while Carter and Pinner fought from midpack where some aggressive eastern Canadian start tactics caused quite a pile-up on the asphalt. Mark McCormack led all racers across the finish line. All three Canadians finished in the top twenty of the 76 man field with myself in 7th, Carter in 16th, and Pinner in 19th. Carter and I taking 4th and 1st in the Espoir division. The field was very deep in talent with Pinner and Carter both pleased at beating top American mountain bikers Steve Larsen and Dave Wiens. Pinner and I were among the few racing with flat bars and were able to gain time by riding over a section of double barriers which was cheered by the sizeable crowd.
The race was supported very well by the community and sponsors. Festina and Saturn held a very nice gourmet banquet for all the riders on Saturday with lots of free schwag.
Hope this is of interest. Over and Out.
Geoff Kabush
1998 Mountain Bike World Championships Coverage
We have removed the World's Page from the top of the Daily News section. However, you will always be able to go to it by clicking here.
Cliquez ici pour des nouvelles fraîches sur les Championnats du Monde!
The votes continue to roll in for our 1998 Canadian Cyclist of the Year awards, but we need your picks too. Click Here to register your vote.
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Anodised aluminium guides are standard with all our internal high speed doors models.
As standard each speed doors curtain is manufactured from 1000 D-Tex Polyester Reinforced PVC with other options also available.
Infrared light beam, bottom safety edge, electric motor brake and EN Wind Class 4 170 km/h as standard.
Each speed door is manufactured with full width vision panels as standard with other options also available.
Each door is designed to perform in the most demanding of applications. All doors include duty rated motors and frequency inverters as standard.
Operating up to 2.0 metres per second as standard, our internal high speed doors provide a fast and efficient access solution.
Available with forklift pull cords, traffic lights, remote control, passive radar sensors and magnetic loops to make vehicle entry fast and simple in either direction.
Suitable for pedestrian traffic and automated entry systems using electronic swipe cards, remote control, pull cords, push buttons and digital keypads.
High quality D-Tex curtains, extruded aluminium guides and duty rated motors, our doors are designed to cope with the most demanding applications.
At the heart of doors are powerful and intelligent frequency inverter drives. This provides all doors with variable speed and a ramped start/stop feature.
Our range of vision window options allow you to specify the correct amount of vision for your individual application. We have a solution to suit every requirement from security and minimalistic to full width any multiple rows, whatever the requirement there's a solution available.
Typical window shapes
(custom shapes also available)
Infra-red light beams operate by sensing movement and objects the entire width of the door. If the IR beam is obstructed the door will return to the open position until such time as the obstruction is removed.
We also provide a 3D product visualisation service for all products.


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I sanded and painted a dresser with several coats of 100% acrylic paint, namely, these paints:
The paint job turned out good, with one issue. After 4-6 weeks of drying, the paint is still slightly tacky. That is a problem, because when I put a significantly weighted object on top of the dresser and leave it on for a while, it 'peels' off. If I leave it for long enough, I am sure the paint will completely peel off along with the object.
The reason for the tackiness could be for a variety of reasons (I probably didn't allow enough time to dry between coats, and I probably put the coats on too thick) but I am more concerned about how to fix it so that the top of the dresser is not sticky anymore. Short of restripping it and starting over, what are my options?


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Arkansas Genealogy
This guide contains a sample of The Newberry's resources on this topic. To locate additional resources, please check our catalog or consult a reference librarian.
Local Histories, Local Records
Allen, Desmond W. Arkansas death record index. Conway, Ark.: Arkansas Research, 1996-1997. 3 volumes on the 2nd floor open shelf covering: 1914- 1923 (Call # Local History Ref F410.A553), 1924-1933 (F410.A555), and 1934-1940 (F410.A554).
Allen, Desmond W. Arkansas land patents granted through 30 June 1908. Conway, Ark.: Arkansas Research, 1991. 57 volumes. Call # folio F410.A45. Consult catalog for county by county volume contents.
Arkansas family historian. The quarterly of the Arkansas Genealogical Society. Volumes 1-31 (1962- 1993) on microfiche. Call # Microfiche 2820. Thereafter available in hard copy. Call # folio F410.A7. See also: Cemetery inscriptions published in thirty years of the Arkansas Family Historian. Call # folio F410.C45 1992.
Allen, Desmond W. Index to Arkansas Confederate soldiers. Conway, Ark.: Arkansas Research, 1990. 3 volumes. Call # Local History Ref E553.3.A44 (2nd floor open shelf). See also Frances T. Ingmire's Arkansas Confederate veterans and widows pensions applications. Call # Local History Ref F410.I53 (2nd floor open shelf).
Allen, Desmond W. Arkansas' damned Yankees: An Index to Union soldiers in Arkansas regiments. Conway, Ark.: Arkansas Research, 1987. Call # folio F410.A44. See also Allen's Arkansas Union solders pension application index Call # Local History Ref F410.A46 (2nd floor open shelf)
Arkansas. Adjutant General. Report. Washington, D.C., 1867. Call # U1881.O4 (also Microfiche 3405). Rosters of white Federal regiments only.
Microfilm holdings complete 1830-1880, plus 1880 Soundex index. Published indexes 1830-1870. Partial transcription of 1880 mortality schedules shelved with census indexes.
Special Topic: African-American Research
See also the African American Genealogy guide. The following Freedmen's Bureau records may be especially useful for research during the period immediately following the Civil War.
Freedmen's Bureau Assistant Commissioner's Records. Call # Microfilm 715. Reels 35-44 contain labor contracts arranged by year and there under by employer surname.
Freedmen's Bureau Field Office Records. 21 reels. Call # Microfilm 1171. Consult the description of these records in volume 1 of the Preliminary Inventory of the Records of the Field Offices of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, Call # Local History Ref E185.2.U56 1973 (2nd floor open shelf), as well as the catalog record, to determine which reels might be useful for you.
Freedmen's Bureau Claims Division Records. 6 reels. Call # Microfilm 1170. Records of claims by United States Colored Troops veterans and widows for backpay and bounty.
Those with ancestry in and around Little Rock after the Civil War may also want to consult reel 3 of the Freedmen's Savings and Trust Signature Books (Call # Microfilm 709). For a description of these records see the African American Genealogical Sourcebook (Call # Local History Ref E185.96.A444 (2nd floor open shelf), pp. 59-62.


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Case Studies
Linear Motors Power Disk Drive PNP Robot
A major disk drive manufacturer needed a robot to load and unload a large vertical array of Servo Track Writers (STW's) plus an input and output shuttle within a Class 100 mini-environment. With only a few inches of space for mechanism beyond the travel envelope, the robot was required to move 90" in the X-direction, 60" in the Z-direction, and 8" in the Y-direction. In addition to the Class 100 requirement, it had to be ESD safe.
Analysis revealed that because of the required cycle time, even the largest diameter and highest lead ballscrew-driven actuators would not work due to critical speed limitations.
A custom-engineered three-axis robot was designed and built by MEKAnize Robots using linear motors for the X and Z-axes. In addition to their high-speed capability, linear motors are inherently clean devices since the bearings are the only point of contact.
When using a linear motor in a vertical direction, a counterweight is typically employed to hold the load in the event of a power failure. A counterweight cable and pulley system was viewed as unnecessarily complex and a potential particle generator -- highly undesirable in a cleanroom. To avoid this problem, a fail-safe, self-energizing brake was engineered for the Z-axis (patent pending) that was small enough to fit in the few inches of space available.
A short cycle time was critical in order to meet the customer's production requirements. Dual Y-actuators/end effectors were used to save time by inserting a new drive into a STW and removing the completed drive all in one step.
Mounting the robot controller external to the mini-environment was not an option. Due to the limited space available inside the mini-environment, the open architecture PC controller designed by MEKAnize was engineered to fit under the X-axis, and the servo controller with amplifiers was mounted on the Z-Axis. The control code and Graphical User Interface (GUI) were written in Visual C++. Programming in a non-proprietary language makes future program modifications easier.
In addition to controlling the robot, the MEKAnize controller acts as a network communications server for all of the STW's, relaying Factory Information System (FIS) data to them. It also tracks the status of each hard drive. In the event of a drive write failure, the robot will either reload the drive into a different STW or reject it, depending on the failure mode.
The STW's are mounted on rubber isolators. To compensate for STW drift, custom-designed targets are mounted on each STW and the robot is equipped with a laser distance sensor. The laser and target combination provides a measurement of STW position in X, Y and Z. If the STW position is out of tolerance, the robot executes an automatic hunt routine to find the target. Once found, the target position is automatically updated in the software.
The initial prototype has been installed and is running successfully. Manufacturing of production units is now underway.


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The economic upswing for the beauty industry benefit ted Luxe Pack Monaco 2011's roster of participating companies, which grew by 3%. However, strikes in France are thought to have caused a slight fall in visitors (-3%), though 5,726 did walk the show floor. Some 80 countries were represented, and the total amount of international visitors amounted to 54% of the total number of visitors. The number of attendees from the U.S., Spain and the U.K. was particularly notable.
Show organizers noted the success of the "Innovation Forum" area, in which innovations were presented in an interactive manner—allowing visitors to gain a maximum amount of information in a minimum amount of time.The Trend Observer workshop focused on deciphering the current trends in creative packaging and made them them accessible to visitors through, among other methods, an instructional showcase.
Among the conferences, Organic Monitor's general manager, Amarjit Sahota, presented a tract regarding the packaging of organic cosmetics; and Emilie Copperman, senior perfumer, Symrise, led a discussion regarding the creation of perfumes and their packaging. Marc Rosen monitored the "Looking Back To See The Future" panel—which featured Lynne Greene, president, Clinique; Rochelle Bloom, president, The Fragrance Foundation; Tim Bell, vice president, innovation and sustainability, Eastman Chemical; and Terry Young, managing director, RAPP a unit of Omnicom Group, Inc. The group explored how the industry can reinvent itself by looking back to the successes and inspiration of its past. Additional coverage of this tract will be available in GCI's December Starting Point column and in the January/February issue.
As a 2010 extension of the "Luxe Pack in Green" exhibition space, the inaugural "Luxe Pack in Green" Award, designed to recognize sustainable packaging solutions utilized by luxury brands to address consumers' increasing concern for environmental issues, went to Promens for its Ecolution product.
The 2011 Luxe Pack Monaco show is scheduled for October 19–21. The Shanghai show will be held March 29–30, 2011, and the New York show will be held May 18–19, 2011.